Islands girls soccer team rolls to win in playoff opener

Tuesday

The Islands girls soccer team entered the GHSA Class 3A playoffs at the top of its game, having won 14 of its last 15 matches.

The Sharks are peaking at the right time, and they continued their run of excellent play Tuesday night in dominating Tattnall County 9-1 in their playoff opener.

Islands (15-3) will host the winner of Cook and Peach County next week at a day and time to be announced.

Last year, the Sharks had their best season — advancing to the Elite Eight — and coach Kim Bynum thinks this squad has the potential to make another deep playoff run.

"This year there is no disparity with our competitiveness with our players," Bynum said. "It makes for a great practice environment. From top to bottom, we have competitive players who try to be the best in whatever they do. I just had to pick our academic player of the year and I had so many candidates that it took a really long time."

Islands wasted no time scoring as Kylie Gordon made a perfect cross from the right side of the box to Shelby Harvey, who volleyed a rocket into the back of the net just 45 seconds into the match.

Meara Kelly, a junior midfielder who was recently selected Region 3-3A player of the year, scored a pair of goals for the Sharks, one on an assist from Rebecca Davis. Freshman standout Jade Cintron, who was voted the region's offensive player of the year, showed why she is so highly regarded with a pair of goals. Harvey added another goal and Maddie Caldwell blasted a shot from 25 yards out that went off the leaping goalie's hands for an impressive goal. Julia Metzger converted another shot from distance and Tattnall County had an own goal.

Islands keeper Elizabeth Sierzant made a play on the ball a few minutes later and got into a nasty collision with Porshia Cummings. Sierzant left the game for a few minutes and Tattnall County scored its only goal on Samantha Camacho's shot before Sierzant came back in and helped shut down the Warriors from there.

Sierzant, a senior who has committed to play basketball at Berry College, made the move from defender to keeper this season and has been excellent in her new role.

"I feel like I can make a bigger impact playing goalie because we have some great young players holding it down with our defense," Sierzant said.

Kelly, a junior, said the team is united and determined to close out the season strong.

"Our chemistry is beyond compare," Kelly said. "We get along great off the field and it transfers onto the field. I think if we play a full game like we're capable of playing, we can beat anyone."